Choose this option if you want to give specific individuals or groups permission to an item. This lets you remove permission for specific individuals or groups later if you need to.

In the To box, enter email addresses or contact names. When you begin to enter info in the box, you can
also choose a contact from the list that appears.

Add a note to recipients if you want.

To change the permission level, tap or click Recipients can only view or Recipients can edit. If you choose Recipients can edit, recipients can use Office Online to edit Office documents without signing in. To make other changes (like adding or deleting files in a folder), recipients need to sign in with a Microsoft account. If you pick Recipients can edit and a recipient forwards the message, anyone who receives it will also be able to edit the item you're sharing.

If you always want recipients to sign in with a Microsoft account (to even view the item you're sharing), choose
Recipients need to sign in with a Microsoft account. This helps prevent other people from accessing the shared item if a recipient forwards your message.

Tap or click Share to save the permission settings and send a message with a link to the item.

Note

You can invite people without knowing their Microsoft accounts, even if you select Recipients need to sign in with a Microsoft account. You can use any email addresses you have for people when you send them the message. If you share an item with people who don't have a Microsoft account, they can create one for free.

Choose this option to share items with lots of people you might not even know personally. For example, you can use these links to post to Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. You can also use them to share in email or IM, but you won't have as much control over individual permissions.

Choose the type of link you want. The permissions for the item are automatically updated when you create the link.

View onlyWhen you share items with this type of link, people can view your items without signing in. They can also forward the link to other people.

EditWhen you share items with this type of link, people can view your items and use Office Online to edit Office documents, all without signing in. To make other edits, like adding or deleting files in a folder, people need to sign in with a Microsoft account. People can forward an edit link to other people, and anyone who receives the link will also be able to edit the items.

PublicA public link is like a View only link, but it also allows anyone to find the shared item by searching. If you choose this option, people will be able to access the item you're sharing even if you don't publish the link you get.

Tap or click Create link.

To post the link on a social network, tap or click the icon for the social network.

If you want to include the link in a message with a limited number of characters (like a text message), or share the link in a printed document, tap or click Shorten link to make the URL shorter. This makes the link look nicer and makes it easier for people to enter in a web browser.

Note

Using a shortened link might make it easier for someone to guess the web address to the items you share.

Notes

If your Microsoft account is set with Family Safety, and your parent has turned off contact management, you can only share items with people who are already on your contact list, and you can't create public folders.